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United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., On Pakistan's Vision For Regional Peace and Development
United States Institute of Peace, Washington, D.C., On Pakistan's Vision For Regional Peace and Development
PML(N)MANIFESTO
PRIMEMINISTER
FEDERALCABINET
PM'SSPEECHES
PM'SMESSAGES
PrimeMinistersaddressatUnitedStatesInstituteofPeace,Washington,D.C.,onPakistansVisionforRegional
PeaceandDevelopment
CONTACTUS
October22,2013
CongressmanJimMarshall,PresidentUSIP,
Mr.StephenHadley,
DistinguishedGuests,
LadiesandGentlemen,
IamhonouredtospeakatthisprestigiousForum,onPakistansVisionforRegionalPeaceandDevelopment.
WeappreciateUSIPsnoblemissionofpromotingpeaceandunderstandingamongstnationsandIdeeplyvalueyourkindinvitation.
LadiesandGentlemen,
IhavecomehereastheelectedleaderofPakistan,alandofancientcivilizationsandrichculturaltraditions,butastatestillyoungand
aspiringtobeamodern,moderateandprogressivecountryof180millionenterprising,hardworkingpeople,dreamingofabettertomorrow,
inarapidlychangingworld.
Theyalsoyearnforpeace,securityandwellbeingthathaveeludedthemforthepastmanydecades.
ItistheirhopesandaspirationsthatIhavecomeheretovoicebeforethislearnedgathering.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Thishasbeenamomentousyearinourhistory.Notonlyhavewehadafree,fairandtransparentgeneralelections,butapeaceful,dignified
transferofpowerfromoneelectedgovernmenttoanother.
AlsoanelectedPresidentsucceededanotherelectedPresident,inagracefulceremonythattheentirenationwitnessed,withasenseofdeep
satisfaction.
Theseeventswould,ofcourse,beofaroutinenaturetoyou,butforustheyrepresentaremarkabletransformationofourdemocraticculture,
signifyingpoliticalmaturitynotonlyfortheelectorate,butforthemainstreampartiesaswell.Theywillsurelystrengthenthedemocratic
institutionsandtheruleoflawinPakistan.
LadiesandGentlemen,
WeviewthemandategiventoourPartyasatrustofthenation,whichweshallendeavourtoprotectandpromoteinamannerthat
strengthensthedemocraticinstitutionsandenhancesthewelfareofthepeople.
ThisisanewandconfidentPakistan,butIamnotobliviousofthedauntingchallengesthatwehaveinherited.
Mygovernmentisfullyawareoftheenormouseconomicandsecuritychallengesthatfaceustoday.Wearealsoconsciousthatpeopleof
Pakistanhavehighexpectationsfromus,giventhefactthatinourearlierabortedtermsinoffice,weintroducedmanyfarreachingreformsto
liberalizetheeconomy,strengthentheprivatesector,facilitateforeigninvestmentandcreateabusinessfriendlyclimateinthecountry.These
enabledustocompletemajorinfrastructureprojects,suchasmodernmotorways,ports,airportsanddams.
WeintendtoresumeourjourneywhereitwasinterruptedbythemilitarycoupinOctober1999,bothintermsofreformsathomeandanew
directioninourforeignpolicy.Wewanttocreateasocietybasedonsocialjusticeandwellbeingofallourpeople,withoutanydiscrimination.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Wealsorecognizethattherealizationofthisambitiousagendarequiresinternalpeaceandsecurity,aswellaspeaceandstabilityinthe
neighbourhood,whichiswhywearedeterminedtotransformourrelationswithfriendsaroundtheworld,butmoreimportantly,withour
immediateneighbours.
Iamhowever,awarethatthegreatestchallengetoPakistancomesfromterrorismandextremism.ButPakistanisneitherasourceof,northe
epicentreofterrorism,asissometimesalleged.
Infact,Pakistanitselfhasbeenamajorvictimofthisscourge,foroveradecade.
Pakistanssacrificesinthestruggleagainstterrorismandextremismarewellknown.
Wehavefacedhundredsofsuicideattacksinthepastdecade,losingover7000ofourbravesoldiers,securitypersonnelandpolicemen,
whileourciviliancasualtiesexceed40,000.Oursacrificesareimmeasurable,bothintermsofthelossofhumanlivesandthedamagecaused
toourinfrastructure.
Mygovernmentisfirmlyresolvedtobringingthiscycleofbloodshedandviolencetoanend,butitcannotbedoneovernight,norcanitbe
donebyunleashingsenselessforceagainstourcitizens,withoutfirstmakingeveryefforttobringthemisguidedandconfusedelementsof
society,backtothemainstream.Wealsohavetoensurethatthepoliticalpartiesandcivicsocietyareonthesamepage,soastocreatethe
enablingenvironmentnecessarytotacklethismenace.
Itwastothisendthatinanextraordinaryexpressionofnationalunityandcohesion,theAllPartiesConference(APC)underlinedthe
imperativeneedofgivingpeaceachance.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Mygovernmentisalsodeterminedtoaddressthechallengeposedbyaweakeconomy,whilerecognizingtheurgencyoffocusingonthe
energysector,whichhashamperedournationalgrowthandcreatedhugesocialunrest.
Majorreformshavealreadybeenintroducedtoensuresoundmacroeconomicpoliciestoreducebudgetarydeficits,ensurebalanceof
payment,curbinflationarypressureandreducethecountrysdependenceonforeignloansandassistance.Wearealsoengagedineffortsto
bringhalfamillionnewtaxpayersintothetaxnet.ThesemeasuresshouldenhancethetaxtoGDPratiofromthecurrentlowof9percentto
15percentby2018.
IthasalsobeendecidedtoprivatisethemajorStateOwnedEnterprises,includingentitiessuchasthenationalairlines,thesteelmillandthe
nationaloilandgascompanies.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Turningtoforeignrelations,Iwishtostatethatwefirmlybelievethatapeaceful,stableandunitedAfghanistanisinPakistansvitalinterest.
Oureffortsare,therefore,focusedonhelpingthestabilizationofAfghanistan,whichisgoingthroughavitallyimportantphase,withsecurity
andpoliticaltransitionunderway.Pakistanwishestheselandmarktransitionstobecompletedpeacefullyandsmoothly.
WealsowishtheinternationalcommunitytoremainengagedinsupportingAfghanistansreconstructionandeconomicdevelopment.We
hopeforanAfghanistanthatisfirmlyonthepathofstabilityandprosperity.
Asanessentialelementofourpolicy,westronglysupportaninclusive,AfghanledandAfghanownedpeaceandreconciliationprocess.
DuringPresidentKarzaisrecentvisittoPakistan,wereaffirmedoursolidaritywithAfghanistananditspeople.
IalsoassuredPresidentKarzaithatwewishneithertointerfereinAfghanistansinternalaffairs,nordowehaveanyfavourites.Infact,itis
ourearnesthopetoseetheAfghansthemselvesuniteforpeace,prosperityanddevelopmentoftheircountry.
Simultaneously,wearemakingeffortstoupgradeourbilateralrelationswithAfghanistan,inallspheres.Myownvisionisthatitshouldbe
definedbyastrongtradeandeconomicpartnership.
InadditiontohostingmillionsofAfghanrefugeesfordecades,Pakistanisextendingassistanceworthmorethan450milliondollarsfor
Afghanistansreconstructionandcapacitybuilding,withspecialfocusoninfrastructure,healthandeducationsectors.
WehavealsodecidedtoextendtheKarachiPeshawarhighwayuptoKabul.ThisisourmodestcontributiontobringingAfghanistanintothe
regionaleconomichub.
WebelievethatwecanworkwithAfghanistanforenhancedregionalandeconomiccooperationthatwouldestablishandreinforceregional
trade,energyandcommunicationcorridors.
Thetwocountriesareparticipatinginmegaenergyprojects,namelyTurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistanIndia(TAPI)andCentralAsiaSouth
AsiaElectricityTransmissionandTradeProject(CASA1000).Thiswouldundoubtedlyhelpstrengtheneffortsforpeaceandstabilityand
advanceourcommonobjectivesofprogressandprosperity.
LadiesandGentlemen,
OurotherimportantneighbourisIndia,withwhichweshareacommonhistory,aswellasacommondestiny.Ourpastandourfutureare
intertwined.PakistanishappytoseethepeopleofIndialiveinpeaceandsecurity.
ThepeopleofPakistanwanttoresolvealloutstandingissueswithIndia,throughdialogueandnegotiations.
Weareconfidentthatthereareareaswherewecanmakequickprogress.Wealsowishtoputourselvesonthepathfornormalizingtrade
relationswithIndia.
MymeetingwithPrimeMinisterManmohanSinghlastmonthinNewYorkreflectedthisdesireandIamconfidentthatwecanovercome
challengesandfindsolutionstoallissues,aslongaswestayengaged.Inanycase,wedonotwantisolatedincidentstointerruptour
dialogue.
Ourmessageissimple.FutureprosperityandeconomicdevelopmentinSouthAsiadependonpeaceandsecurityintheregion.Therefore,
allofushaveastakeinworkingforthesenobleobjectives,forourownsake,aswellasforthesakeofourfuturegenerations.Itisabouttime
thatthetwosidesaddressedtheirbilateralissueswithutmostseriousness,inordertoavailthemselvesofthehistoricopportunityofdevoting
theirenergiesandresources,todevelopmentandbettermentoftheirteemingmillions.
MayIaddhere,thathadourtwocountriesnotwastedtheirpreciousresourcesinaneverendingarmsrace,wewouldnotonlyhaveavoided
thefutileconflicts,butalsoemergedasstableandprosperousnations.
IwishtoassurethisaugustaudiencethatPakistandesirestoliveinpeacewithitsneighbour.Wewouldnotbefoundwantinginwalkingthe
extramile.
Ourdreamistorealizethepotentialofmutuallybeneficialeconomiccooperation,atthebilaterallevel,aswellasatthebroaderregionallevel,
underSAARC.
Evenmorepromisingaretheprospectsofinterregionalcooperation.Asapopulous,energydeficitbuttechnologicallyadvancedfastgrowing
region,SouthAsiastandstobenefittremendouslyfromtheenergyrichCentralAsiaandWestAsia.Thereisahugepotentialforinter
regionaltrade,transitandconnectivity.
PakistanprovidesCentralAsiawiththeshortestaccesstothewarmwatersoftheArabianSea.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Contrarytothecommonperception,PakistanUSrelationshavestoodthetestoftime.Despitetheoccasionalhiccups,thesolidfoundations
ofthisvitalrelationshiphavealwaysweatheredtheoccasionalstormandturbulence.
AsdemocracytakesrootsinPakistan,thereisscopeforbuildingastrongandstablepartnershipbetweenthetwocountries.Theyshouldbe
basedonmutualinterestandmutualrespect,assoclearlyarticulatedbyPresidentObama,inhisCairospeech.
Ourtwocountriesshareperceptionsandinterestsonawiderangeofissues.TheseincludeAfghanistan,peaceandstabilityinSouthAsia
andintheMiddleEast,aswellasextremismandterrorism.
Moreover,despitetheplanneddrawdown,therewouldbecontinuingneedforclosecooperationbetweenourtwocountries,especiallyon
Afghanistan.Otherkeyissuesofmutualconcernincludeterrorism,theUNreform,internationaleconomiccooperationandenvironment.
PakistanappreciatestheconstructiveroletheUShashistoricallyplayedindefusingtensionsbetweenPakistanandIndia.
WithitsgrowinginfluenceinIndia,theUSnowhasthecapacitytodomore,tohelpthetwosidesresolvetheircoredisputes,including
Kashmir,andinpromotingacultureofcooperation.
Thereis,however,thematterofdronestrikes,whichhavedeeplydisturbedandagitatedourpeople.InmyveryfirststatementtoParliament,
Ihadreiteratedourstrongcommitmenttoensuringanendtothedroneattacks.
Morerecentlyourpoliticalparties,inanationalconference,haddeclaredthattheuseofdronesisnotonlyacontinuedviolationofour
territorialintegrity,butalsodetrimentaltoourresolveandeffortsateliminatingterrorismfromourcountry.Thisissuehasbecomeamajor
irritantinourbilateralrelationshipaswell.Iwould,therefore,stresstheneedforanendtodroneattacks.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Itismyendeavourtoapproachthisimportantrelationshipwithanopenandfreshmind,leavingbehindthebaggageoftrustdeficitand
mutualsuspicions.Instead,cooperationinkeyareasincludingtrade,investment,energy,technology,educationandagricultureunderthe
rubricofStrategicDialogue,shouldbethemainplankofourpartnership.
Aslargedemocracies,thereshouldbegreaterinteractionbetweenourtwocountries,notonlyattheparliamentarylevel,butthrough
exchangeofbusinessmen,students,opinionmakersandtourism,asthesewouldhelpremovemanyofourmisperceptions.
Moreover,thetraditionallystrongtiesatthemilitarylevelshouldbereinvigorated.
ThevibrantcommunityofPakistaniAmericansisplayinganimportantroleinbringingourtwonationscloser.Iamthankfultothem,asthey
constituteapermanentlinkbetweenourtwocountries,thatcanandshouldplayanimportantroleineliminatingthenegativeperceptions.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Asaresponsiblenuclearpowerandamajordevelopingcountry,Pakistanisdestinedtoplayakeyroleinregionalstabilityandworldpeace
andsecurity.
Pakistanremainsfullyalivetoprotectingitssovereignty,territorialintegrityandindependence.Withoutengaginginanarmsrace,Pakistanwill
maintaincredibleminimumdeterrencetoensureregionalsecurityandstability.Wewouldnevertheless,consistentlypursuethegoalsof
disarmament,onanondiscriminatorybasis.
ItisourhopethattheUnitedStateswouldfollowanevenhandedandnondiscriminatoryapproach,infieldslikecivilnuclearcooperation.
LadiesandGentlemen,
Asyouwouldbeaware,Pakistanisacountryblessedwithenormoushumanandmaterialresources.Itisstrategicallylocatedatthecross
roadsofthevastregionsofSouthandEastAsiaononeside,andCentralandWestAsiaontheother.
Pakistanisanaturallandbridgeconnectingthesevastregions,andthushasthepotentialofbecomingahuboftransitandtradeamong
theseregions.
Withavibrantcivilsociety,acriticalmedia,anindependentjudiciary,ahugereservoirofeducatedyoungpopulationandthephenomenal
expansionofITnetwork,Pakistanisemergingasamodern,knowledgebasedsociety.
Withfastdevelopingphysicalinfrastructure,abundantskilledlabourandattractiveinvestmentincentives,Pakistanispoisedtoattractitsdue
sharefromtheprocessofglobalization.
ThehistoricdemocratictransitionaftertheMay11electionshasbeenhailedbytheinternationalcommunity.Ithasalsoinstilledconfidence
amongtheinvestorcommunity,withinthecountryandabroad.
IavailmyselfofthisopportunitytoinvitetheUSprivatesectortojoinus,ineffortsforsustainedeconomicgrowthanddevelopment.
Therevivaloftheeconomyisthekeytoprogressacrosstheentirespectrumofthechallengesthatwearefacingtoday,fromterrorismand
extremismtodevelopmentofthesocialsector.Itisalsoanessentialprerequisiteforstrengtheningdemocracyandtheruleoflaw.Thisis
whatwehavelearntfromourownexperience.
AndthisiswhatIrecallPresidentFranklinRooseveltemphasizinginoneofhisspeeches:Trueindividualfreedomcannotexistwithout
economicsecurityandindependence.Peoplewhoarehungryandoutofjobarethestuffofwhichdictatorshipsaremade.
LadiesandGentlemen,
IamawareofthefactthatthedrivingmotivationoftheFoundingFathersofthisgreatnationwastheirintensedesiretoliveinacountry
wherereligiousfreedomandeconomicopportunitieswouldbeavailabletoall.OurFoundingFatherstoo,soughttoestablishahomelandwith
similargoals.Thereistherefore,anaturalaffinitybetweenourpeoples,theoverwhelmingmajorityofwhombelieveinthesamejustand
mercifulGod,whichremindsmeofJesusChristsSermonontheMount,whenhehaddeclaredBlessedarethepeacemakers.Somesix
centurieslater,whentheHolyQuranwasrevealedtoourHolyProphetMohammad(PBUH),wewereremindedoftheeternaltruth:We
madeyouintonationsandtribes,sothatyoumayknoweachother.Verily,themosthonouredofyouinthesightofGodishewhoismost
righteousofyou.Letustherefore,endeavourtoknoweachotherbetter,sothatwecanallmakeourmodestcontributiontomakingthe
worldabetterplace.
Ithankyou.
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